Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash's Greatest Album by Danny Robins

Folsom Untold: The Strange True Story of Johnny Cash's Greatest Album by Danny Robins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm the mildest of Johnny Cash fans but I have found his persona fascinating and his place in American popular is legendary. I remember as a kid finding this album(they were among aunts and uncles collection at my grandparents house) and had wondered why a country album was mixed in with pop and rock albums of early 70's. Honestly I've only heard a few of Cash's songs and probably most I know about Cash's career can be summed up in the movie "Walk the line"(Joaquin Pheonix as Cash) which begins and ends just as he's about to go on stage at Folsom Prison. I did read his autobiography also many years ago to after seeing the aforementioned movie.

What this turns out simply to be is another audio-documentary about the classic live album of Johnny Cash's "At Folsom Prison". It was turning point in Cash's career in the late sixties. Coincidentally Elvis Presley, a friend and musical peer, also had a similar experience with career around the same time after a TV special.

The story narrated a sometimes the overly dramatic English author loses it's charm at times. Some of the more interesting facts is that this was not Cash's first prison concert as he had done("Walk the line" movie gives the impression it's the first one) as he had been doing them before but this was the first one recorded for an album which was a hard sell to the record company at the time. It features interviews and soundbites from the album.

A major part of the story was about Glen Shurley, a prisoner at Folsom, who's song "Greystone Chapel" was smuggled to Cash and was featured in the concert/album. After which Cash lobbied for his early release a time afterward. Upon release he did record an album and tour with Cash enjoying some success but it was short lived. After a falling out with Cash he fell into obscurity and tragically took his own life in 1978.

Perhaps the biggest bit of drama is about the title song(Folsom Prison Blues) itself in which we find out the iconic cheer after the line" I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die" wasn't real and was actually added in later in production.

It's an interesting story if you want to know a bit more backstory about the iconic album, Johnny Cash and Glen Shurley. The author does play up the drama but seems a little thin on actual substance but is still interesting at times.

View all my reviews

P.S. At the time of this posting this audio book appear to be unavailable on Audible and I'm unable to find out what this is about. This was a free offering as part of my Audible membership as an "Audible Original". If someone knows what the issue is feel free to post about it. Thank you ahead of time.

Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend by Tony Fletcher

Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend by Tony Fletcher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Who is the group I most identified with as a teen many decades ago. This is a must read for any fan of the group. It is quite extensive(over 600 pages) and rarely boring. Not only is this the story of the legendary and sometimes infamous Keith Moon it is also chronicle of the group that ascended to the heights of success unimaginable when they started. The group's final piece that brought them together was Keith and turned out to be key ingredient the their success. He became part of their image, sound and legend. When died the group was never the same again. They tried for several years after to continue but never regained their former glory.

Of course Keith will forever be remembered for being crazy and over the top in almost everything he did. To borrow a phrase from "This is Spinal Tap" he lived life to 11 on a scale of 1-10. He set the the standard of rock and roll excess and decadence.

View all my reviews

Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story by Roger Daltrey

Thanks a Lot, Mr. Kibblewhite: My Story by Roger Daltrey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


As a longtime fan of The Who it was fun to listen to Roger talk about his life in and outside of the group. He provided the bravado muscle on stage and in the music itself. The book provides the backstory of his trademark image and sound. He has that blue collar tell it like it is quality. The tough gritty character he projected on stage was what he is like in real life.

He tells us how he went from a kid building his first guitar from scrap wood to struggle and work up to being one of the most powerful rock vocalists of his time. He amazingly is still doing it today. In between are the stories of the rock and roll life. We get his perspective on all the sex, drugs and rock and roll. Of course he mentions the early death of their drummer Keith Moon whose excesses finally caught up with him. He also talks of the loss of legendary bassist John Entwistle who despite being quiet on stage loved the rock and roll life style. Of course we can’t forget the creative (and sometimes physical) battles with guitarist and the bands primary songwriter Pete Townshend.

On a personal note we find out he’s been married to the same woman since 1972 with many children. Although he and his wife seemed to have worked out an understanding about other women and being on the road which you can imagine can be controversial to some. He has seven children, one from his first marriage, three from his present marriage and three more from another mother (see the above mention of being on the road). All are included in his life currently.

It’s a great book if you are a fan of The Who. It’s not quite as intellectually or spiritually deep as Pete Townshend’s memoir “Who am I” from several years ago. It’s also not as crazy as the Keith Moon biography by Tony Fletcher, ”Moon: The Life and Death of a Rock Legend”(which I’m still reading as of this writing). He’s down to earth and is mostly unapologetic about his views and actions. He’s comfortable with whom he is and still loves what he does which is to being a singer in a rock and roll band.


View all my reviews

Top 5 Running Songs.

The practice of plugging my earphones cranking the tunes out in my brain have been a staple of my running ever since started recently. It was a worry of mine when I did my first race whether or not I'd stick out using it. I've grown so used it and I'm not sure how I'd do with out it. I still carry my phone in hand with headphones stuck in. Runkeeper app tracking me and music rocking out. In the two 5k's under my belt I've found although the majority of fellow runners don't use them but enough do that I don't feel so self conscious about it. If anyone has any input I'd be glad to hear it(pardon the pun,LOL).

That being said hear are my top current favorite jogging songs in which to hit the pavement with.

Uprising - Muse

Beat the horse - Pomplamoose

I'm Alright(theme from "Caddyshack) - Kenny Loggin's

Candyman - Christina Aguilera

Kickstart My Heart - Motley Crue

What are your favorites that put a little extra pop in your step?

Vader Cool

John Lennon

What can be said about this man that hasn’t been said before? I was just beginning to learn about him when he was taken away from us in 1980. I can’t give any first hand accounts of him when he was with us. We live in the shadow of John Lennon. I only remember the media coverage and reaction to his death. The only one that compared to it was the passing of the “King” Elvis just a couple of years before.

John of course was an essential member from the most influential pop/rock group in history, The Beatles. I knew very little of his personal life before his passing. I learned much of his post Beatle years in the days (and years) after his death. Media coverage at the time was extensive. Newspapers, radio and television were saturated with news and  music of his work. I believe the recent passing of the “King of Pop” pails in comparison. Many at the time felt they lost a family member or close friend. Can that be said of the gloved wonder? I doubt it, unless you’ve got a demented family.

What I learned about since is that he was a human being prone mistakes. He married a woman he loved, though few understood it(she didn’t cause the Beatle’s split but, she didn’t help matters either.). Extremely gifted artist and musician. He spoke his mind with his biting wit.  He used his celebrity status to campaign for world peace.  He was also a father too, was he a good Dad? That depends on which son you talk too. I also believe he grew up with a lot of anger and sadness, which at the time of his death he was beginning to work through.

One can only imagine(pun intended) what he would think of today's world.

Happy Birthday John! Thank you!

October 9, 1940 – December 8, 1980

Life is just what happens to you,
While your busy making other plans…

-John Lennon “Beautiful boy(darling boy)”

Technorati Tags: lennon,john lennon,the beatles,birthday

Music: Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band - Remastered

What can possibly be written about this album that already hasn’t been said. It is The Beatles masterpiece. They pulled out all the stops on this one. To be honest I haven’t listened to this album in many years. My one copy on a cassette(yes that dates me) was well worn and was lost quite awhile ago and never replaced. So this is a revisiting of an album I’m somewhat familiar with.  I must admit I got a bit caught up in the recent Beatlemania with the Rock Band Beatles game and re-release of The Beatles albums on  September 9, 2009(9-9-09) and I ordered my CD from Amazon.

After listening to this in it’s entirety I’m simply blown away. I had forgotten how good, I mean great this album is. From the opening orchestra sounds to the fade out at the end of “A day in the life” you are taken away to a different world than the one your in. To enjoy this properly I believe a set of headphones and a block of time to listen to the whole album from start to finish.

One thing that strikes me is how much I forgot that The Beatles were at heart a rock and roll band.When I went through my adolescent and young adult years I put them on the backburner in favor of more modern rock music of the time. Again I find my self re-discovering them. The beauty of The Beatles is that they went beyond the traditional arrangement of guitar,vocals,bass, drums and brought in many different instruments and sounds.

Well back to the CD itself. If your like me and haven’t listen to this album in awhile it’s worth it pick this one up and give it a listen. If your new to The Beatles this is a good start. If your a hardcore fan it’s still worth it I believe with booklet inside with notes about the album and an additional 5 minute video included on the CD(computer needed to view). This is still rock album that all others must measure up to.

Technorati Tags: the beatles,sgt peppers lonely hearts club band,sgt pepper,album,rock,music,cd

Music: Hey Bulldog

In case you haven’t noticed The Beatles are once again in the limelight. The fab four are now featured on a new video game as part of the RockBand franchise. Coinciding with this release is the re-mastered versions of there albums on the same day. It suddenly seems cool to like The Beatles again. I now have a reason to upgrade my gaming console. I think this is major testimony to the strength of there staying power. Even though they broke up close to forty years ago they still have the ability to be in the limelight.

I was born in the mid sixties when they were in there hey day and still producing music. Obviously I was born a little to late to enjoy them when were still together. I’ve often wished I was born about ten years earlier so I could have enjoyed them a bit more. Growing up in the seventies The Beatles music was still played on the airwaves along with there solo stuff that was more current. It seemed like they were always around just in the background. It was until later in the seventies to early eighties that I paid more serious attention to them.

In middle school music class we learned about The Beatle’s. We examined the lyric’s and meaning behind “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”, “Penny Lane”, “Eleanor Rigby” , “With a little help from my friends” and probably others I don’t remember.

It seemed just as I was getting into them was about the time John Lennon was shot. I was shocked and felt like I had been robbed. This shook the music world like I’ve not seen since that time.

I think after that it was the twilight of other remaining Beatle’s career’s. Sir Paul McCartney put out some stuff but, it almost didn’t compare to his earlier solo stuff. George and Ringo had some solo stuff that was OK but after the eighties they all just seem to fade out. Not completely gone but, not center stage.

We fast forward to 2009 and in that time George Harrison has passed away along with Paul’s first wife Linda and he’s already divorced the second. He still tours from time to time. I’m not exactly sure what Ringo’s up to these days. You would think that for a pop/rock band from forty years prior would just be a faded memory. It seems just the opposite is happening. A recent example is when the anniversary of just taking the famous photo of The Beatles crossing the now famous “Abbey Road” attracted large crowds that authorities weren’t prepared for. The popular game franchise Rockband is set to release “The Beatles” version and there music catalog is again being re-released.

Personally though I may have put The Beatles in the back of my musical interests they have now gotten my attention once again. My favorite song now is “Hey Bulldog” from the “Yellow Submarine” soundtrack. What got my attention is the video for it. A rare studio take them performing the song together. I feel like I’ve discovered a new song that I now can’t get enough of. What makes this one a bit different is that they look like there having fun. In bit’s of later footage they seem a bit too serious. Many reports tell this was the pinnacle of The Beatles and that they never performed together quite the same after this one. Perhaps this is the way I want to remember them playing together.

It’s certainly nice to see Beatles once again be cool to like again. Now I’ve got to go watch the video again. Thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo for all you’ve done. What are your thoughts and memories of The Beatle’s?

Technorati Tags: music,the beatles,paul mccartney,john lennon,ringo,starr,george harrison,hey bulldog,yellow submarine,rockband